Representative Sam Johnson (R-Texas) and twenty Republican colleagues are asking Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin to respond to allegations the I.R.S. is acting in a politically motivated manner by auditing Paula Jones, as well as former travel office director Billy Dale. Jones has a lawsuit pending against President Clinton.

In a letter sent to Rubin, the lawmakers wrote: "Either lightning really did strike twice, coincidentally hitting two of the president's most vocal opponents, or individuals within this government have grossly misused their authority to attack those they perceive as enemies of the president."

The members suggest the two audits "may have been a retaliatory and
politically motivated" action, pointing out that Jones' audit "was launched just days after Jones turned down a settlement offer for her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton."

The letter states, "the chances that both Jones and Dale would be audited in the same period are infinitesimal, less than one in 2,500, and the implications that such audits took place are gravely disturbing."